Canadiens' Retired Jerseys & Cool Things About Chara
Welcome to the THW Hockey History Substack newsletter, with all the best from our extensive archives.
In today’s edition, we have a couple of “Today in Hockey History” posts, retired jerseys of the Montreal Canadiens, cool things about Zdeno Chara, a brief history of NHL uniforms, and more.
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Today in Hockey History: Nov. 3
Some of the biggest names in the history of the National Hockey League hit personal milestones on this date over the years. Plus, a handful of the best minds behind the bench had their moments in the spotlight. Nov. 3 has also been a pretty darn good day for goaltenders as well. So, let’s begin our daily trip back in time to relive all the great memories.
Canadiens’ Retired Jerseys – the Story of a Famed Franchise
The Montreal Canadiens, one of the oldest professional sports franchises in North America, have a very storied past of success. They have honoured 18 players by taking their 15 jersey numbers out of circulation (three players shared the same number). The Canadiens have the most retired numbers of any NHL team.
Sixteen of these 18 honourees (all except Émile Bouchard and Guy Lapointe) are also on the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players List. Here’s a look at the players whose jerseys have been retired by the Canadiens and their celebratory stories.
Zdeno Chara – 7 Cool Things About the Big Guy
by Brandon Share-Cohen
When thinking about former NHL defender and future Hall of Famer Zdeno Chara, one word should come to mind. That word, as you might have guessed, is big. Whether it’s his big stature, his contributions to the team, or his contributions to the city he played hockey in, everything about Chara screams “big.”
It’s for that reason that a player nearly seven feet tall deserves an article highlighting seven things about him that every hockey fan should know.
Today in Hockey History: Nov. 2
Both the “Great One” and “Mr. Hockey” had multiple memories on Nov. 2. Plus, there were plenty of monumental wins, personal milestones reached, and even a handful of big trades made on this date in NHL history. The THW time machine is fired up and ready to take us back through the decades to relive all the best this date has given us.
A Brief History of NHL Uniforms
Have you ever wondered why referees wear striped shirts, or teams have to wear contrasting colours? Then this is for you.
Hockey uniforms were very simple in the early days. Since most players also played football in the summertime, they simply borrowed these pants for hockey games, then added a turtleneck sweater to stay warm along with some knee high socks. With only a combined total of fourteen players involved there was little need for decidedly differing uniforms, it was easy for players to know who played for who.
4 Former Thrashers Still Active in the NHL
by Declan Schroeder
Unlike the common bird itself, former Atlanta Thrashers are a fading breed.
Now more than a decade removed from the Thrashers’ move to Winnipeg, the number of former Thrashers left in the NHL has dwindled to four, with only three actively playing in 2023-24. Here’s a look at each of them, in alphabetical order, and what they’ve done since leaving the Peach State.